The Bedazzler

Every Wednesday at the Powerhouse is craft day with Rhonda (which is a very important detail!! WE LOVE RHONDA!!!). The kids know it and expect it and are usually quite enjoyable for the two hours we craft together.

A few weeks ago Nathan asked if I had the bedazzler. Apparently this is a real thing- one of those as seen on tv things. I told him there was no need for a bedazzler and that I indeed was the bedazzler. So, I set to work and used the most trusty craft tool yet, the hot glue gun, and bedazzled his white gloves with gold and silver sequins. Following the bedazzling Bafo and Nathan practiced Micheal Jackson moves in the kitchen. Just another day at the house..

Fast forward a week and Nathan had asked me everyday since then to continue with bedazzling and do the other side. Though I am the bedazzler I refused to do the otherside partly because my fingerprints had been burned off. So, he declared he would do it. He got out the glue gun and breathed down my neck until I would sit next to him and give him the adult supervision he was requesting (exact words my friends, this kid is a trip!!). So, he set to work bedazzling the other side of the gloves. Not too long and some of the best things ever came out of his mouth...

"Jessi (because he says my name 50 bazillion times a day), I am BEAST at the glue gun"

"Jessi, you have been replaced and now I AM THE BEDAZZLER"

I count this year a complete success as Nathan has achieved a love for the glue gun and accomlished the pretentious title of the Bedazzler.

Thank-you craft day Wednesdays and Nathan for being THE bedazzler, just love that kid!

vaca

It's been a long time yet again...and my faithful followers are remaining faithful but pretty soon might give up on me! It's been a whirlwind of a month and had plenty of ups and downs. The holidays always invite craziness and add the 20+ families I work with and this season that proved itself to be true yet again.

About a year ago two beautiful young ladies had made their home in my house and my bed and i was ripped way out of my comfort zone as I walked the road of grieving the loss of their mother with them. It was tragic and heart-breaking but one of the most real times in my life where I tried desperately to be Jesus and love these girls even when I didn't feel like I knew how. I remember the day of the funeral returning home from the office to help iron their clothes and get them ready and my house was filled with the laughter and the aroma of the flat iron- these children absolutely amazed me. Those moments of laughter when all the siblings were together squished in my little house began the process of healing togheter and made them stronger as a family. It was a hard start to the year but proof yet again of God's faithfulness and that He goes before all things and works all things together.

I made the decision final in the next few months of the beginning of 2010 to move back home. Never did I think I would move back home but my heart yearned to be here and I knew it was time. It was hard to tell those that were so dear to me, but I knew in my heart of hearts it was right, and that has continually proven to be true.

My three years in Detroit taught me invaluable lessons, but most of all taught me how to love beyond what was within me but with what Christ has given me. So, I loaded up the (not so trusty lately, grr) Bonnie and my dearest friend Dana and we journeyed back home.

Home has been everything and more than I thought it could be. I have laughed more and slept less than I could have ever asked for, and been provided for in ways that I coudln't have imagined. My family and community here welcomed me back with open arms and I am so blessed.

However, it's funny how God carves your path as this year ended similar to how it started with tragedy and heart ache, but this time it was not new to me. A family I work with had a house fire three days before Christmas and lost everything. This mother and I are very close due to various other tragedies and yet she stands strong and fights hard for her children- a precious 3 and 7 year old. So, the apartment hunt began, donations came rolling in, and an effort to make Christmas happen for this family was immediately in the works. We fought hard for three days I felt major defeat but saw truly miraculous works of God and hours before Christmas eve they were in a beautiful apt with Christmas tree in tow. Most mornings I felt helpless, not sure where to turn to except the arms of Christ and though I have to admit I almost gave up hope- He proved yet again to go before all things. The week before Christmas and ones following have been hard, and led me to uncharted territory. But as proven in my last three years of ministry He doesn't leave your side. The love and grace of Christ gave me power yet again to love like Jesus and be His hands and feet. I am so honored and blessed to walk with this family who has truly become like my own.

Today we took the 7 year old to a new school due to the move and a little part of my heart cried with him when we waved goodbye. He is so precious to me. Then we went to change some addresses as well and worked with a woman named Becca. My friend thought her name was vaca...which means cow in Spanish...so there we sat in the social services waiting room laughing til we cried that some crazy American was named cow. Benilda sat there and mooed and I had tears of laughter in my eyes. Don't worry, I cleared things up and assured her we aren't all that crazy, at least not crazy enough to name our children after cows. This was exactly where I wanted to be, and know I needed to be sharing life with this precious friend of mine. It hasn't been easy and there has been ups and downs, but I have been absolutely blessed with a burden to get calls at 2am and drive around for days looking at apartments, and deliver blankets and pillows on Christmas eve morning as I love the people the good Lord has entrusted me with.

Absolutely, positively so blessed to call this my life.

six pack and a pound

This is Nathan and Joe Joe. They are brothers that come to my house everyday after school and have quickly stolen my heart. Nathan is in eighth grade and calls me to tell me if he's going to be late, tells me about his girlfriend daily, texted me to say thank-you out of the blue, is obsessed with spiderman (mexican spiderman to be exact), loves tacos, dilligently completes his homework everyday, and shows a very fatherly love to his younger brother daily.

Joe Joe is in 6th grade and some that know him think he takes extra patience but I really get him. Joe Joe needs lots of words of encouragement everday and 1-1 help, loves star wars and wants a luke skywalker tunic, is very sweet-spirited, has the best one-liners, and definitely has a special place in my heart.

These boy earned a trip to Taco John's through a competition at the Powerhouse. They saved there pennies to upgrade to order the coveted six pack and a pound. So, the week of thanksgiving when we had a day off we headed over to the ol' taco joint for dinner. Precious moments with these kids are spent outside of the two hours in my home...though, that time is precious too. But, it's in the conversation prompted by a pound of potato oles that I get to hear their dreams and hurts and I'm reminded once again why I do this gig every single day. They aren't angels but amidst the 6 tacos I was given incredible amounts of patience and love for these boys that extends into the after school hours at my house.

Then they ate the entire six pack and the entire pound- both of them, and i wanted to puke. Growing boys I guess, but seriously. yuck

Gerson

I have had lots of opportunities to brush up on my Spanish in the last four months. Though, the smaller the better when it comes to students to practice with :). This is Gerson (Harrison) ...we got to play together one morning. He taught me so much! Doesn't he just melt your heart!!!

We were playing cash register. He said, "Miss Jessi, yo tengo money" (I have money) a little mixed language if you will :)

This life of teaching classes, visiting homes, hanging with the kids after school is becoming very normal to me and I'm figuring out more and more of a routine. I'm grateful for how beautifuly and naturally it has all come together and even more grateful for all the beautiful people that I get to share life with. Not too many people get an opportunity like this and I'm humbled by how so many welcome me into their homes with open arms. I am so lucky!!

Veteran's Day

I am grateful for the Veteran's, including my grandpa who are serving and have served our country. What a sacrifice. We celebrated my grandpa and many other veterans at applebees with free ribs and beer for him. Nothing like a hearty thank-you!

Though, I was grateful for Veteran's Day at my VOA job as well as I spent the day visiting my familes homes and got to spend time with the children who are typically in school. They are all about the sweetest things you ever met and so incredibly talented and intelligent. They are so far ahead so many as they speak bilingually and are figuring out life in this country and help teach their parents along the way too. Such incredibly strong children and momma's (and daddy's).

I had the pleasure of doing some turkey fun with the kiddos and seeing the beauty of kids learning right along side their mothers and encouraging them and celebrating the victories of irregular past tense verbs as if they had just won a soccer game. It was quite humbling to see a kindergartner and 2nd grader reviewing vocabulary with their mom. These mom's are so tough and hard working and striving so hard to give their children the best life possible. Even if that means working all night and still attending class the next morning. I'm blown away by these women daily and the hurdles they are overcoming as they adjust to life in America.

Made these turkey cookies first, even with the first 4 kiddos at 9am, i'm sure that mom was lovin me :)

Jose and Antony reading together..watch out ladies, these guys are going to be heartbreakers. They are so darn precious!! (not to mention super polite too!)

This is Elba. The four of us we're practicing vocabulary around the room. We learned clown, baseball bat, submarine, kite, and football. The boys cheered when she repeated all of them. She is one of the sweetest spirited ladies and has raised some fine young men. When I met her we stuck to hi and how are you. Now we talk about her children and their progress at school, her job, and where she likes to shop. She absolutely blows me away!!

I am so blessed and honored to visit the homes of these incredible families each week and to be a part of their lives!

what do you do?

In most introductions and occasions of meeting someone know the question is often asked of 'what do you do". I usually tell folks I'm a teacher and hope not too many more questions ensue. Though, this often initiates questions of where, what grade and how long...and so the answer begins...

"What do you do?"

"I'm a teacher"

"Where at, what grade?".....

I taught 2nd-3rd grade for two years. I was the program director for all programs outside the school day. I teach English to adult immigrants and refugees. I teach middle schoolers every day in an after school program. I teach piano lessons. I teach children's Sunday school. I teach about the justice 2nd language parents deserve in the public schools. I teach middle schoolers they are valued and loved by their Creator and me too. I teach the students in all my arenas how to create and express themselves whether that means cooking or gluing and cutting. I teach adults the letters and the sounds they make. I teach geometry to myself first so i can help the kids. I teach children the musical alphabet and hope to grow in them a love for music. I teach others about Jesus and how to live for Him but hope they experience Him through my words and actions too. I teach moms how to care for their child who has a cast, though I've never had a child with a cast myself. I teach children manners simply to chew with their mouth closed and even explain why. I teach adults the importance and value of reading with their children on a daily basis. I teach everyone the healing in laughter and thats it ok to laugh at yourself too. I teach because I have been blessed with a burden to serve and love and give of myself in this way.

But, I teach because I have been taught and continue to be taught. I've been taught right from wrong and how to give and live selflessly. I've been taught the musical alphabet and developed a love for music. I've been taught the letters and the sounds they make. I've been taught that even though communication is difficult loving a child isn't. I've been taught about the love of my Jesus and that we must share that with and without words. I'm taught each day by the beautiful women in my class that fight and struggle each day to learn the same things their 2nd graders are learning, and to do it with endurance and pride. I've been taught that we are all just people and deserve a 2nd, 3rd and 4th chance. I've been taught that there is not much more beautiful in this world than the innocence of a child and though so small we have so much to learn from them.

So that's what I do...I teach, because I've been taught.

....and...if you knew this girl you would too!

little of this and that

Just a few days of fun at the Powerhouse...

Sara at the Washington Pavilion checking out her brain waves...nice
Future archeologists (how do you spell that??) Joe Joe and Job, they built that dino at the Science center of the pavilion

We went to the corn maze and found the treasure box and got a treat! It was cold, but fun!!

Yo-yo master, David, came and the kids all got their own yo-yos and taught some tricks. I was pretty impressed!

Vicki and Jesse joined Meriah on a Thursday to make sugar cookies. Damius and Job made me retake this picture after they made it look like they had been working. They used a rolling pin for the first time. It was delcious!

We are so blessed to have people bless us with their gifts and talents. However, makes the not special days tagged as 'boring'...which means I usually fall in that category. Silly kids :) I love them to pieces and love learning new things with them from the folks that join us. These kids are truly the best (even after they've eaten 6 cookies, I just sometimes need a little reminder then :)